“Pittsburgh opened new worlds to me.” —Jane Haskell

Jane Haskell’s Modernism: A Pittsburgh Legacy explores Jane Haskell’s legacy in Pittsburgh as an artist, collector, museum donor, and advocate for Modernism. Four of Jane’s works are presented alongside objects that she and her husband Edward collected and then donated to the museum, as well as others the museum purchased through the Haskell Family Acquisition Fund. The works reveal Jane’s particular take on Modernism: her love of the restrained palette and geometric precision of the Russian avant-garde, and her fascination with artists who explored pure light and color. Jane’s affinity for modern art was central to her artistic development and helped cultivate an exciting collection at Carnegie Museum of Art. This exhibition surveys her life in Pittsburgh through the lens of her relationship with the museum.

Jane Haskell (1923–2013) moved to Pittsburgh in 1949, and over the next 60 years became a vital member of the city’s art community. In Pittsburgh, Jane found a mentor in cherished teacher and artist Samuel Rosenberg, earned an MA in art history that led to her 10-year teaching career, and received hard-won recognition for her artworks. She and her husband commissioned a house by architect Herbert Seigle in nearby Point Breeze, filling it with their distinctive modern art collection while actively participating in various roles at Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh gave shape to Jane’s aspirations as an artist, and, in turn, she invigorated the local art community.